The Mag: Geoff Worley's Redodging from X

LXM pro and four-time captain at University of Vermont, Geoff Worley breaks down some tips on dodging from behind and redodging based on your defenseman’s positioning.

01: Dodge Hard, Make Contact

When dodging from X, it’s essential to go full speed, driving hard to goal line extended. When you get to GLE, make contact with your defenseman and lean into him; he should push you back out, away from his body.

02: Step Away

When you make contact with your defenseman and he pushes you out, he’ll be slightly off- balance. Being off balance prevents him from reacting quickly — this is when you take that step back to create space and read his approach.

03: Reading the Approach

Look for the guy covering you to make one of two mistakes after you create separation: overplaying the top side or lunging to your inside shoulder.

If he overplays the top side in an effort to turn you back, attack underneath on a line to the goal with a small, fast face dodge. If he plays your inside shoulder, simply accelerate upfield to the top side and free up your hands for a shot or feed.

Tip: You won’t always be able to read your defenseman’s feet. The key to perfecting this dodge is taking repetition after repetition, until it becomes second nature to analyze his position after stepping away from contact. If you feel him overplaying or leaning one way, go the other. The more reps you get with this, the more instinctual it — and you — will become.